Message from Me'Shae Rolling, Executive Producer

April is Financial Literacy Month. The Financial Empowerment Summit—presented by M&T Bank—was poised to occur April 25, 2020, and then the once-in-a-lifetime worldwide pandemic hit. The dream was deferred for two years, coupled with the fact that I was in the throes of running the minority chamber of commerce. Nevertheless, the virtual community program made its debut on April 9, 2021. The 2025 conference is being scaled up as a regional convention and promises to be bigger and better than before!

The original vision has not changed: to customize financial literacy topics for various affinity groups since one shoe does not fit all. College students facing student loan debt. Working professionals who need to plan for retirement and estate planning. Seniors who are the target of fraud and financial abuse. Entrepreneurs in their continual quest for access to capital. The middle class who are entangled in debt but nonetheless aspire to wealth and philanthropy. The underbanked low-to-moderate income individuals who dream of becoming middle class.

The convention aims to be comprehensive and topically diverse and bring together cross-sectional community collaborators engaged in anti-poverty programs. Collaborators include municipal, county and state government; nonprofit organizations; the for-profit business sector; community foundations; academia; grass-roots community organizations; prospective attendees; and individuals and organizations already engaged in asset-building initiatives.

Target Audiences/Affinity Groups:

●  Middle-class individuals

●  Low to Moderate Income Individuals

●  College Students and Young Adults

●  Seniors

●  African Americans

●  LatinX/Hispanics

●  New Americans and Immigrants

●  Military Veterans

●  Persons with Disabilities

●  Working-class Professionals

●  Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

●  Faith-based individuals

●  Other marginalized and underrepresented groups

Please be sure to invite your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and associates! Periodically check back in on this site for updates. See you at the convention next April!